Real progress in talks with Fiji Rugby

LAST Wednesday’s workshop with the provincial unions was a big step forward in communications between the members and the parent body.

With many complaining in the last few years that Fiji Rugby Union had become somewhat separated from its members and was organising competitions with little or no input from the participating teams, the workshop gave everyone a chance to have their say.

The Ba Rugby Union sent seven delegates to the day-long event with a mixture of administrators, coaches and managers.

Working in regional groups, the members were able to discuss issues surrounding the Skipper Cup and Ranadi Cup, both positive and negative.

Finance was a continuous issue, but isn’t it always?

BRU secretary Gaby Kautoga noted that the FRU grant for the Ranadi Cup teams was $7000.

“With that, our ladies have to travel around the island to Nadi and Serua, and also find their way to Kadavu. And we will host three matches, and can’t really charge an entrance fee,” he added.

“Whilst we have found a brilliant sponsor for our men’s team in Vinod Patel, our women’s ruggers are relatively new and haven’t yet got a sponsor.

“I guess that’s a challenge we’ll just have to face up to, and find a way to make it work,” Kautoga said with a serious look.

Back at the workshop, the brief presentations from FRU’s Bill Gadolo and Senirusi Seruvakula, and Nico Andrade from the Drua were simply superb.

“Wow! Those were so interesting,” Kautoga said.

“It’s a pity that we didn’t have time to hear more from these three gentlemen. Perhaps they could have a full day’s session soon with the Skipper Cup coaches and assistant coaches at the Drua headquarters? That would be so valuable and would bring the Drua closer to its feeder teams.”

Even the morning discussions were cut short because of time when there was so much left to be said.

“The two sets of coffee times probably could have been kept to one to save time and money.

“But we are so grateful to the FRU staff for organising such a worthwhile session,” the secretary added with appreciation.

Picture: BA RUGBY After the workshop, Ba Rugby Union executives Gaby Kautoga (right) and Jeremy Duxbury (second from left) took the opportunity to spend more time with FRU officials (from left) development officer Lionel Danford, interim board chairperson Peter Mazey, and manager operations Sale Sorovaki in Suva.